Urbane Restaurant – Delightfully Modern and Delicious Food

December 30, 2010

One of the best things about living downtown is that you’re walking distance to award-winning eateries, and you might find yourself torn between returning to old favorites or testing new ones. Well, in Seattle, it’s fairly difficult to get a bad meal, so you should rest assured that venturing to new places is a relatively safe adventure.

A little while back, we adventured into Urbane Restaurant and Bar, which is located in the Olive 8 Hotel. A friend and classmate of mine is a lead line cook in the back, so I promised him that we’d check it out. So one night when we wanted to impress a visiting friend, we decided to walk to Urbane.

Friday nights at trendy, upscale hotel restaurants are often very busy, and Urbane was definitely no different. We headed there for a late night happy hour, so we waited around until it started. We also ordered from the Seattle Restaurant Week Menu, which offers three courses for just $30. I’m so glad we did, because we had a chance to sample a variety of foods.

For our Urbane sampler, we enjoyed the Manila Clams, Chicken Liver Mousse, Seared Albacore, Bacon Mac N Cheese, Zoe Pepperoni Flatbread, Seared Scallops, Apple Crisp, and a few other items. The portions were generous but not extraneous, and the flavors were incredibly balanced. Service was prompt, professional, and flexible to various special requests we made. The food was fresh, clean, and beautifully plated. The seafood was tender and sweet, the Bacon Mac N Cheese was creamy and indulgent. The flatbread was crisp, salty, and savory. I would definitely return for more.

Urbane focuses on providing Northwest cuisine that celebrates the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. The restaurant itself was built to bring the concept of “Farm to Table” to consumers in the heart of downtown Seattle. The ingredients used on the menu were sourced from local producers, farmers, and fishers in order to build a relationship with the local economy and to support local businesses. The pedigree of the chefs is impressive: both Chef Dan Gilmore and Chef T Dy have worked at the Herbfarm and Crush, and they each spent time mastering their craft under other notable chefs as well.

Be sure to visit Urbane, which offers a wide variety of menu selections, including breakfast, brunch, kids menu, and happy hour selections. They have also participated in the Seattle Eat Week and Restaurant Week. If you’re looking for a classy place for New Year’s Eve, Urbane has two different seating times with a prix fixe menu that is sure to dazzle. Make reservations today.